Welcome to the Kansas Arts Network’s Advocacy Center. On this page we’ll share current information about arts legislation and issues, as well as calls for action. Arts supporters can make an impact by speaking up for the issues they care about. We encourage all Kansans to be informed and communicate with their elected officials in support of the arts.

Kansas Department of Commerce Creative Arts Industries Commission logo with "Ad Astra Per Aspera" banner and stars.

Support Funding for the Kansas Arts Commission

The Kansas Arts Commission is the State’s Arts Agency which currently functions under the Department of Commerce. The agency has seen a fluctuation in budgeting over the years but has been operating with approximately a $1.5M budget — of which the majority goes towards granting programs across the state.

Advocacy update: 4/1/25: Thank you for all of your amazing advocacy efforts over these last few weeks! Grassroots advocacy is an impactful tool, and we couldn't have accomplished this without you and the arts supporters in the legislature.

We're pleased to share what will hopefully be a final update on funding for the Kansas Arts Commission (KAC) this budget season. The Senate accepted the House's position of $1 million for the KAC (EDIF) with a 60/40 split. Meaning 60% of funds to go to counties with populations of 85,000 or less and 40% to go to counties with populations of 85,000 or more. The finished legislative finished the budget which included the funding for KAC as agreed upon. The next step for the budget is for the Governor to sign it.

Thank you to everyone who shared our social media posts and reached out to their representatives, and a big thank you to the legislators who ensured the Kansas Arts Commission was funded amidst difficult budget decisions.

Illustration of sunflowers with "Save Sunflower Summer" text in bold, surrounded by a bright, sunny sky.

Support Funding for the Sunflower Summer Program

The Sunflower Summer Program has become a staple for so many Kansas families and provides unparalleled access to enriching educational and cultural experiences across the State. We know the program not only benefits Kansas families, but it also has allowed so many arts organizations to strengthen their impact in communities of all sizes.

The program has been funded by the State of Kansas since 2020, however 2025-2026 funding has not been allocated adequately. Learn more about how you can support the program here:

Funding for the program is reduced for the summer of 2026, but we are pleased to see that the program will take place with partial funding in the amount of $3.5M. In the summer of 2024, the program cost $6.5M to operate.

Additional information can be found here: https://savesunflowersummer.org